Watch Wade In The Water Children

Wade In the Water Children is a 2007 film directed by Orlando Bagwell that presents a dramatic account of the civil rights movement's integration of schools in New Orleans in the late 1960s. The film takes its name from a children's song popular in the southern United States, which tells the story of the Hebrew exodus of Moses and the miracle of crossing the Red Sea, but its lyrics also encode a special message about the struggles of African Americans.

The movie follows the experiences of three main characters: Eddie Isom, a 12-year-old black boy who transfers from a segregated school to a formerly all-white one; Mary, the white daughter of a segregationist mayor who befriends Eddie, and William Frantz, the teacher assigned to educate Eddie and his classmates. These characters provide different perspectives on the contentious and emotional process of school integration, portraying the hopes, fears, and tensions that shaped the daily interactions of students, teachers, parents, and activists in New Orleans.

At the beginning of the film, Eddie Isom is shown as an eager, curious, and intelligent boy who loves to read and learn. However, he lives in a poor and primarily black neighborhood that lacks adequate educational resources and opportunities. When the federal government passes a law in 1966 that requires all public schools to desegregate, Eddie seizes the chance to attend a better school and pursue his dreams. He enrolls in William Frantz Elementary, an institution that has never admitted a black student before, and faces discrimination, hostility, and violence from fellow students, parents and authorities. Despite this, Eddie perseveres and shows remarkable courage and dignity, inspired by his grandmother's teachings and his own sense of justice.

Mary, on the other hand, is introduced as a sheltered and privileged girl who has never questioned her family's racist beliefs. She lives in a comfortable house, attends church regularly, and participates in a Girl Scouts troop. However, when she meets Eddie and sees how much they have in common, Mary starts to question her upbringing and open her mind to new perspectives. She becomes a loyal friend to Eddie, defends him from bullies, and even stands up to her father and his cronies, risking her own safety and reputation.

William Frantz, meanwhile, is portrayed as a committed and competent teacher who faces a daunting task of integrating his classroom amid a hostile and volatile environment. He encounters resistance from some parents who withdraw their children from the school, as well as from some black activists who accuse him of being a traitor and a sellout. However, William strives to create a nurturing and fair learning environment for all his pupils, including Eddie, whom he treats with respect and compassion. He also learns valuable lessons about his own biases and assumptions, and how education can act as a vehicle for social change.

The film employs various cinematic devices to enhance its message and impact. For instance, it blends archival footage and photographs from the civil rights era with reenactments and interviews with the real-life characters, creating a seamless and immersive narrative. It also intersperses scenes of cultural and musical performances, such as brass bands, gospel choirs, and Mardi Gras parades, that symbolize the rich heritage and resilience of the New Orleans community. Moreover, it uses close-ups and medium shots to convey the emotions and expressions of the characters, especially Eddie, whose face reflects a range of feelings from fear to hope, from anger to joy.

While Wade In the Water Children is primarily a drama about the complexity of race relations and education, it also touches on broader themes of identity, belonging, memory, and justice. It shows how the personal struggles of Eddie, Mary, and William intersect with the larger historical events of the civil rights movement, and how their experiences shape their beliefs and actions. It also invites viewers to reflect on the legacy of that period and the ongoing challenges of achieving equality and dignity for all people, regardless of their skin color, background or beliefs.

Overall, Wade In the Water Children is a powerful and moving film that humanizes the stories behind one of the most significant and transformative periods in American history. It engages our minds and hearts with its vivid characters, poignant scenes, and profound insights, and invites us to join the chorus of voices that proclaim: "Wade in the water, children, God's gonna trouble the water."

Wade In The Water Children is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.